Damon was feeling odd during that final minute. And also a bit cold of a sudden, while the System counted down, despite the lack of any wind blowing. He should have been warm, no matter that he’d been standing on the roof mostly naked. He had been enjoying the first beams of the sun caressing his fully healed skin, knowing all the operations were finally behind him. I’m not sure I’ll ever look at pain the same again, but least I can finally get back to my policy of kicking the ass of anything that tries to hurt me.
The past week had been chock-full of having to act against his every natural impulse, the process having sickened him with its repetitiveness, but the System healing was still working full time keeping him in prime physical shape, for which he was grateful; both in terms of how quickly he’d recovered, but also how Damon was poised for the future, finally back to feeling nearly the way he had before the System’s arrival; primed for whatever challenges lay ahead.
Since waking up alone, his body was feeling quite different from when he’d jumped up from bed due to the System announcement just a day prior. Instead of still being entirely worn out, Damon felt energetic but as if his body was slowly growing more and more stiff by the minute, on top of feeling noticeably heavier; yet also like he was far too light as soon as he resisted the effect and put any minor effort into moving. I really need to get used to all these changes.
Hopefully there was time.
Damon had been so focused on the System Countdown scroll that he failed to take note when the rest of the world faded into darkness. Even once the timer reached zero, he’d stood there for a full minute, just staring at the unflinching numbers, fully expecting something more to happen—or else the countdown scroll would have been removed, right?
His mind suddenly catching up, Damon startled and looked all around, and saw nothing remaining in the world besides himself and the lonely scroll, both shining slightly with an unnatural inner light.
Despite being entirely surrounded by complete darkness so suddenly, which fair enough, was surprising—Damon managed to keep hold of a strange sense of calmness.
Looking back to the scroll, he saw it had turned completely blank. And also larger, maybe?
On a whim he tried summoning his own personal scroll, and this time it looked like he was no longer locked out. The System message was summoned at will, at last, as the scroll expanded far too slowly—at least the System finally acknowledged a request, if only in those pre-recorded tones:
[Base System UI unlocked: Mapping Assistance.]
[Base System UI unlocked: Identify.]
[Base System UI unlocked: Chronicles Page.]
"My Chronicles page?"
Chronicles
Explorer ID: Damon Bishop
…
Explorer Class: [Aspirant rite of passage completed - Analyzing options. Dao Class selection to be presented upon completion.]
…
Explorer Race: [Undetermined. Personal identification incomplete. Reanalyzing traits.]
Ratings
Strength: 80
Perception: 28
Mana: 51
Grace: 17
Dao Path:
Dogma Key of the Hero
Sacrifice Strength Mastery
Titles:
Groundbreaker, Primus Explorer, Fruit of the Origin Tree
Oh. Oh, wow. There was so much information to digest, Damon hardly knew where to begin. Too many things were still quite unclear, and the System certainly seemed to agree…? What’s with all the difficulty it’s having finishing up my analysis… Sigh. It's lucky I'm so naturally patient… like I’m being given a choice. Where even am I right now?
Instead of letting his thoughts wander, Damon did some calculations to figure out his base stats. Then he tried to figure out how long he’d been stuck there for, and soon realized it was impossible. So, panic, I guess?
Sigh. What’s the point, I’m clearly not in danger.
Damon was quickly coming to terms with the fact that he was trapped here for now. At least he appeared to have reached some new threshold, because the System had suddenly become much more forthcoming with information. As Damon started to focus in on one of his 'ratings', attempting to mentally prompt it, the scroll expanded even further:
Strength
(Vigor, Durability)
Perception
(Invoking, Processing Speeds)
Mana
(Rapture, Energy)
Grace
(Your Fortune Is Your Own)
Sweet. Still unclear; but it does clarify some things. It’s sort of feeling like I'm way ahead of the game already. Regular beasts like the ones we fought before should hardly be a problem by this point, no matter their number, right? The System seemed to sort of like my Daos too. Hopefully that means I’ll get access to a rare Class. I’m betting there's gonna be some pretty hefty stat bonuses for rare Classes, with the way she’s been going on about ‘em.
Questions remained, for sure. But it finally felt like Damon had started earning some answers. Yet the promise of an upcoming Dao Class could only keep his foggy mind distracted for so long. After what must have been about a day he started asking some more questions. "Why is nothing happening?"
He was still trapped in complete darkness, besides the System scroll he could now summon at will, showing him the summary of his accomplishments.
Besides that he saw nothing. "Hello?"
Nothing. Guess we can go over the fights now, it’s as good a time as any. Damon returned to chasing perfection in his mind. As impossible as that goal was, he did have plenty of recent fights to go over, with a completely new type of opponent, which always led to opportunities to find weaknesses in his approach. There was plenty to be found, despite his years of hard work; but why let that be a source of dismay? Despite the unfeasibility, perfection would remain the goal, always. Being able to see where to do better, still? Exulting. When death was the other option you were left with little choice but to celebrate every little victory. It’s what made martial arts such a serious pursuit, where the line from a sport was constantly blurred when reality came knocking.
After what felt like another hour—yet could have been another day—a new, distant voice was suddenly heard. It had the same ethereal quality as the System, yet none of the robotic rigidity.
Having been held in unchanging suspense for so long, it was impossible to not give the voice—and the platinum scroll where the voices' golden words were being recorded—your full, rapt attention.
Damon was locked in, with no room left anywhere in his mind for any stray thoughts to hide.
Welcome Damon, to my Hidden Multiverse Realm. Welcome to your new world of wielding magicka.
Your people were chosen for good reason and should feel free to always roam and explore, especially once the Origins are established. Do not lose that curiosity driving you to challenge the solar System you have been part of, and to enjoy its riches. Let nothing hold you back, or curtail your hunger.
But when you are done exploring your current limits, then—
Come.
Find the true pinnacle. Join me at the peak of freedom, atop your very own. I yearn for your company, and desire it on equal terms. I await your arrival patiently, and remain hopeful always. Reach ever upward, ascend again and yet again. Achieve an indisputable Dao. For that end I will uphold, and never restrict. That is my solemn promise.
If you find the System uncaring, unloving, unheeding of your specific wants and needs in the midst of a crisis; then at the very least you ought to know this: Were I to have given the Opus more, even for use under only the most dire of circumstances, this would cause far more harm than good in the end. Rather than a tool you would find a savior. You would come to observe it, worship it, teach of it, and eventually expect it. You would be praying for my interference time and time again, when taking things into hands of your own could have saved your life, and the life of those you loved.
I will not doom you to that.
So come.
- Axargandr Lee
Damon could not have told you for how long he stared at those words. He went over them too many times to keep up the count, but by the end, some part of his mind still wanted him to have another go at full comprehension. When he finally saw the shining scroll and its golden words start to fade, Damon was honestly a bit relieved. Like he had been waiting for something new to happen for a little too long, and even things fading into nothing was preferable.
He was feeling sort of sleepy at this point anyway.
That had been a phenomenally long week.
----------------------------------------
When Damon woke back up, it was well and truly to a brand new world.
A world with many familiar elements, since it was the same planet where he had once been born: yet unbeknownst to Damon, it was a world where over a thousand years had passed since his birth.
A world which had since seen the rise and fall of many mighty tribes. All of whom knew legends of the Elders; a race of mighty and brilliant—but often ruthless—great apes. Ones who had left behind many enigmatic signs of their civilisation, yet who had one day disappeared without a trace, leaving only great buildings, growing Pylons and ancient skeletons to find for those peoples who explored and made homes there afterward.
Damon was among the very first of the Elders to reawaken, and he was not feeling his best.
He woke up in a pit of black sand, annoyingly enough. The sand was coarse and rough, irritating and remained notorious for getting everywhere—at least that part hadn’t changed over the years.
Damon didn't let it bother him for very long. Still being alive was too much of a relief, but he was trying to piece together what the hell had happened to him.
Last I remember I was on top of the roof, right? Where did our building go?
[Welcome Explorer, to the Black Hills Alluvial.]
Oh, another System scroll, although I’m not sure if a System welcome is a good or a bad sign. Usually the latter, right? Damon ignored it for now. He was surrounded by black dunes, with not a single recognisable landmark in sight.
He felt the wind blowing across his head. "Hey, my hair is back!"
Some good news at last.
After considering his surroundings for another minute, Damon found that he felt perfectly alright, not very hungry—although with a bit of a thirst. So, he decided that first things first, and went through his usual morning stretches—making extra sure his whole body was in healthy shape, and remained limber.
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All good.
Damon still had a smile on his face, right until he read the hovering System scroll.
[Welcome Explorer, to the Black Hills Alluvial.]
Where the hell is that?
This was nowhere that Damon had ever heard of, and there was no sign of how he'd gotten here.
No footprints in the sand, no wheel tracks. I wasn't flown, was I?
That seemed impractical, but there was no other valid explanation that Damon could think of. Unless the System just teleported me here?
There was no apparent reason for him being in this giant sand pit in particular, not that he could spot anyway. "Hey System, some help here?"
Like that's ever gonna work.
But in fact she responded, though not in the way Damon was expecting.
[Class selection analysis completed.]
"What? Oh!" Yes! Yes, give it to me!
What followed was the longest scroll yet, with a list of over 25 Dao Classes, all with a short tag to expand sitting next to their names.
As Damon went through them one by one, they looked to range from some pretty bottom of the barrel, basic ones—hm, looking like they’re based on only one of my Daos—to those that seemingly incorporated several.
Damon carefully read through the list of descriptions:
Dao Class List:
Cultus
Warrior Class relying on feats of bravery to impress the common crowd. Inspire faith in yourself and prepare to take full advantage of the impressionable. Turn the Sacrifice of others into advantages central to your Path. Stats awarded per level: +3 Str, +2 Per, +6 Mana, +0 Grace - Free Points: +4
Juggernaut
Tank Class. Armor yourself. Violate any obstacle, stopping for nothing. Your Path is forward, you cannot miss. When the enemy is scattered, augment what remains to fuel your Path onward. Ever onward. Stats awarded per level: +4 Str, +0 Per, +5 Mana, +0 Grace - Free Points: +4
Marathoner
Skirmisher Class. Endure the very limits of preparation. Plan your route. Provoke, harass, then run the enemy into the ground. Follow your Path with every step taken, every enemy fallen behind. Stats awarded per level: Stats awarded per level: +3 Str, +1 Per, +7 Mana, +0 Grace - Free Points: +4
Sanguine Ascetic
Assassin Class. Accumulate strength, while neglecting its use. Discover the forces dormant within rather than go looking for energy without. Deny yourself the pleasures in life, so you may deny others life in due turn. Practice abstention and see your true reward at the end of your Path. Stats awarded per level: +0 Str, +6 Per, +2 Mana, +0 Grace - Free Points: +5
Barbarian
Fighter Class. You overpower, you overwhelm, you eat well. Feed tribe. Path grow. Stats awarded per level: +10 Str, +1 Per, +2 Mana, 0+ Grace - Free Points: +0
Gladiatorial Pugilist
Fighter Class. Harden your body into a weapon, until you bow down to no styles in the arena. Sway and roll, position your feet for power, all whilst evading every counter. Rigorously zero in for the KO. Step on to the Path of the Fist. Stats awarded per level: +7 Str, +1 Per, +3 Mana, +0 Grace - Free Points: +2
These all seemed aimed at one of Damon’s Daos in particular, and for some reason this made him want to dismiss them, even though some of the choices might have looked more interesting, had he lacked for any better options. Damon knew instinctively that he wanted a Class with as wide a base as possible. That’s just the way you build a tower tall, after all.
The only thing that might have held him back was a fear that the advanced Classes might be more of a challenge when you started delving deeper, with strict requirements for evolving the Class further, but Damon wasn’t worried he would get stuck. Despite the rush he’d been in claiming them, Damon had full confidence in his own compatibility with his Dao Path.
Luckily, the list continued:
Myrmidon
Defensive soldier Class relying on Mastery of the spear. Plans to fight in a line with others, in order to empower the position of the King. Follow your Path with the discipline of the spear. Stats awarded per level: Stats awarded per level: +4 Str, +2 Per, +6 Mana, +0 Grace - Free Points: +3
Varangian
Offensive soldier Class relying on Mastery of the battle axe. Prefers the charge, building momentum until you are hacking away at every shield and limb in reach. Follow the Path of the Executioner. Stats awarded per level: Stats awarded per level: +6 Str, +2 Per, +4 Mana, +0 Grace - Free Points: +3
Praetorian
Specialist soldier Class relying on Mastery of the gladius and shield as a basis. Plans to fight within the city, where you can amass an unassailable toolbox to punish every weakness. Never halts while the mission remains. Follow the Path of Empire. Stats awarded per level: Stats awarded per level: +4 Str, +3 Per, +5 Mana, +0 Grace - Free Points: +3
Hm. Mastery Classes, but they’re clearly more widely proficient than the others. Damn it, all three might be great choices if I at least a whit of actual training with any of these weapons. Might be I'm leaving an undiscovered talent on the table, but I do know my proclivities. Damon went back and stared at the fighter one for a full minute.
Then again, as a kid he’d always dreamed of being a legionary, whenever he saw Rome depicted in movies. But it just wasn’t a right fit. Where would I even find a shield?
There were a few other advanced Classes, but they all revolved around becoming an expert with weaponry that Damon had literally zero clue if he was any good with, and he wasn’t about to base this decision on guesswork. He was literally at the bottom of a sand pit, lost and exposed, even if it looked naturally formed and easy to climb out of. I may yet be surrounded by enemies, let’s not forget.
No time to waste.
Fortunately, the list appeared to have one final tier, although it only listed three more Classes.
Specular Duelist
Close quarters fighting Class primarily wielding daggers, the paragon of the scouting expedition. Gain the Skills to secure an advance point. Perceive the ambush before it takes place. Explore the Path of the Frontier. Stats awarded per level: Stats awarded per level: +5 Str, +3 Per, +3 Mana, +0 Grace - Free Points: +2
Herculean Beast Tamer
Discover and wield the hidden strength of the wilderness. Gain the means to break the will of the mighty beasts you encounter and defeat. Explore the Path of the Dominator. Stats awarded per level: +Stats awarded per level: Stats awarded per level: +6 Str, +2 Per, +3 Mana, +0 Grace - Free Points: +1
Hydraic Berserker
*Extended experience living in swamps not required. Brush off lesser wounds, relying on sheer bulk. Let the boiling blood in your veins fuel your rampage. Stop at nothing to consume your rivals. Explore the Path of Consumption. Stats awarded per level: Stats awarded per level: +3 Str, +0 Per, +9 Mana, +0 Grace - Free Points: +1
The last three looked good, great even. Powerful. Although they seemed to afford him less freedom of choice, perhaps that was a sign of something?
Damon was reluctant to speculate for long. He felt exposed out here, with no clue where Tyler, Ken, Sarah and the rest could be. He needed to make a choice quickly, so he could start looking for help.
The System had offered up some Classes that made it clear what it thought of Damon's chances of becoming a spellcaster. The Barbarian one's description was insultingly short, but the Hydra one bothered him more for some reason. Is the System actually expecting me to resort to cannibalism, all in the pursuit of levels?
Damon knew he would never willingly go that far. He wasn't even willing to risk such a Path, with that choice turning into his only way forward.
That left two.
Path of the Dominator.
Damon had always loved animals, even if they didn't always love him back. He couldn't see himself beating them to "break their will" though. That sounded literally draconian.
No. If the goal was surviving and thriving then Damon much preferred relying on his own two hands. He decided he would leave the beast taming to someone who didn't brandish the Dao of Sacrifice.
That left him with one, and unfortunately it suffered from the same issue as the middle options had; relying on a weapon type that Damon had no experience fighting with.
Or do I? It's like punching someone, just with a blade attached to your hand, right? How hard can do it be.
For some reason the choice of daggers did not feel quite as daunting, even if Damon was aware every weapon's style had a learning curve. They were light enough that his fistfighting experience would come in handy, wieldy enough that he would still be able to utilize his kicks. As for where he was going to get some? Damon was willing to bet that sharpening a rock for long enough would count for a dagger, as far as the System was concerned. And that would do just fine, until he managed to kill something with horns or something, so he could fashion one better.
His reasoning concluded in an easy choice, despite the myriad selection he'd originally been presented with.
[Confirm choice: Dao Class - Specular Duelist - Yes/No?]
*yes*
[Chronicles updated.]
Nice. Finally finished with System surprises for now.
Wrong.
The scrolls just kept coming.
[Racial designation analysis completed.]
…
[Racial traits - Marrow mutagen: Inaccessible. Bloodline: Unknown. Identification inconclusive. Personal designation granted - Unique Lifeform.]
Oh. Sweet. Wait, what. “I'mma what now?”
Damon stared at the scroll with a venom he usually reserved for raging racists, like it had some explaining to do.
"Really wish there was someone else around to compare to... I'm human, damn it."